HEOS Update 36.1: Optimized Interface and Dirac Live Support

The HEOS ecosystem, developed by Denon and Marantz, takes a major step forward with the significant update rolled out on May 29, 2025. Incorporating feedback from users worldwide, this new version introduces highly anticipated features, expanded compatibility with cutting-edge technologies, and a redesigned user experience to meet the high standards of hi-fi enthusiasts.

Personalization and User Interface

The HEOS app now features a fully customizable home screen. Users can highlight their favorite music services and precisely control which sections are displayed for each platform. This modular approach allows the interface to adapt to individual listening habits, whether prioritizing streaming, local libraries, or radio content.

Custom Radio Stations and Time Search

A particularly popular feature is the ability to manually add Internet radio stations via their URL. This openness allows users to integrate specialized stations, local web radios, or custom audio streams that do not appear in the standard HEOS catalog. At the same time, time search in TuneIn podcasts is now accessible directly from the current playback screen, making it easier to navigate long or segmented content.

Precise USB Navigation and Enhanced Control

Music playback management via USB devices retains the previously introduced improvement: precise navigation within a track. This feature, called “USB time search,” allows users to instantly jump to a specific point in a track, whether from a flash drive or a hard drive connected to a HEOS device. This level of control brings HEOS closer to audiophile player standards, making it easier to find specific passages in long audio files.

Expanded Queue and Playlist Capacity

The music queue capacity remains set at 1,000 tracks, a substantial improvement over the initial 300 tracks. Saved playlists also benefit from this extension. This development meets the needs of users with large music libraries or those wishing to create extended ambiances without interruption.

Enhanced Network Compatibility: SMB 3.0 and Optimizations

HEOS continues to support the SMB 3.0 (Server Message Block 3.0) protocol, a modern standard for accessing files stored on NAS devices or computers. This compatibility permanently replaces SMB 1.0, which was discontinued for security reasons. Optimized home screen loading times, with a gain of over 2 seconds depending on configuration, significantly improve the smoothness of daily use.

Dirac Live Acoustic Correction

The May 29, 2025 update marks the arrival of Dirac Live acoustic correction on the Marantz MODEL M1 and the Denon Home amplifier. This Swedish technology, renowned in the audiophile industry, analyzes the acoustics of the listening room and corrects frequency response flaws in real time. Dirac Live takes into account the entire audio system, including the room itself, to optimize sound transparency, tighten bass, improve soundstage, and enhance overall clarity.

Available Versions and Pricing

Two versions are offered: Dirac Live Limited Bandwidth at $159 and Dirac Live Full Bandwidth at $249. This differentiation allows users to choose the level of correction that suits their needs and budget, with the full version providing correction across the entire audible spectrum.

Significantly Expanded Roon Ready Compatibility

Roon Ready certification now extends to all current Denon and Marantz AV amplifiers. This native compatibility with the Roon platform enables seamless integration for advanced metadata management, an enriched interface, and high-resolution multiroom synchronization.

This major expansion towards Roon further establishes HEOS as the reference platform for demanding audiophiles and professional integrators.

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